The Fourteenth Amendment, as now applied to the States, protects the citizen against the State itself and all of its creatures—Boards of Education not excepted. These have, of course, important, delicate, and highly discretionary functions, but none that they may not perform within the limits of the Bill of Rights.
–West Virginia SBE v. Barnette (1943),
US Supreme Court
Which statement best describes the Supreme Court’s decision in this excerpt?
Applying the Bill of Rights is both important and delicate.
Applying the Fourteenth Amendment is at the discretion of the board.
Boards of education are an exception to the Fourteenth Amendment.
Boards of education must comply with the Constitution.